As I mentioned yesterday, the medical device tax that went into effect last January is just one of the many insidious job-killing measures contained within ObamaCare, but it is an especially terrible one. The 2.3 percent excise tax is meant to raise a handsome $30 billion to pay for ObamaCare over the next decade, except that, added bonus: Its going to stifle innovation and competition in an industry that provides all manner of life-saving medical devices, from MRIs to pacemakers to blood tubes.

And this hasnt just been a Republican refrain, by the way. Thursday night, the Senate voted overwhelmingly to repeal the medical device tax, with more than 30 Democrats joining in:

The vote was largely symbolic, but the 79-20 tally signals strong opposition to the 2.3% tax on device sales that went into effect Jan. 1. Even though the levy is meant to help foot the bill for the signature legislative achievement of President Barack Obamas first term, 33 Democrats as well as independent Sen. Angus King of Maine joined Republican senators in voting to repeal the tax.

The vote came as an amendment to the Senate Democrats fiscal year 2014 budget, a partisan tax-and-spending blueprint that stands no chance of passing the GOP-controlled House. Still, the solid bipartisan support shows growing momentum for repealing the tax, which lawmakers have argued hurts U.S. competitiveness and costs highly paid jobs.

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R., Utah) introduced the measure earlier Thursday with the support of nine Democrats, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island. I do wonder that some of these Democrats couldnt summon these same scruples with the health care overhaul when they were falling over themselves to pass the dang thing in 2010, though. Such a shame.

The vote may have been a symbolic one, but nevertheless, this has got to be kind of uncomfortable for the White House: Congress finally managed to find some bipartisan agreement on something, and its over just how stupid of a funding-mechanism idea this medical device tax was to begin with.

worthwhile fundamental research and development often takes years and millions of dollars with uncertainties and risks.

stopping fundamental research and development now dries up the funding pipeline and essentially dismantles the R&D infrastructure that took decades to build. restarting the pipeline may take billions of dollars once knowhow is lost or transferred overseas.

25
posted on 10/14/2013 11:50:18 AM PDT
by SteveH
(First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win.)

In the HR3590 summary, the words Requires the Secretary (of DHS) appear 98 times and Directs the Secretary appears 64 times. Authorizes the Secretary appears 30 times. The law gives a tremendous amount of power to one individual, Kathleen Sebelius, who serves only at the will of the President and was NOT elected by We, the People. It is Congress who makes the laws, NOT Katleen Sebelius and Not Barack Obama.

The Democrat Congress passed Obamacare and gave the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) free reign to do whatever it damn well pleases. Obamacare is making determinations as to what taxes citizens are required to pay. That too is the Constitutional responsibility given to Congress. Has Congress relinquished its Constitutional responsibility when it passed Obamacare? If so, they better take it back before its too late. This law clearly violates the Constitution separation of powers.

Not seeing a Kenyan problem here. 79 Senate votes to repeal is a super majority meaning that the Kenyan’s sniveling veto, if he does it, is OVER RIDEABLE. Surely the House can vote to override. So, c’mon Boner-—lets get to over riding. If Reid won’t bring up a vote to over ride then his snake oil road show will be obvious to all.

Thought I heard (read in an article?) the medical device industry had gone along with the tax in the bill because more people would be needing to buy medical devices now (since ACA adds so many new people to the system).

Guess the medical device industry has changed its mind. I’ll have to look for that article or discussion online I saw back in August. Maybe I heard wrong.

...the medical device tax that went into effect last January is just one of the many insidious job-killing measures contained within ObamaCare, but it is an especially terrible one... to stifle innovation and competition in an industry that provides all manner of life-saving medical devices, from MRIs to pacemakers to blood tubes... Senate voted overwhelmingly to repeal the medical device tax, with more than 30 Democrats joining in... the 79-20 tally signals strong opposition to the 2.3% tax on device sales that went into effect Jan. 1.

40
posted on 10/15/2013 3:49:16 AM PDT
by SunkenCiv
(It's no coincidence that some "conservatives" echo the hard left.)

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